she was the first to say yes

In light of yesterday's post I wanted to share again another favorite Advent painting:  Henry Ossawa Tanner's The Annunciation (oil on canvas, 1898).

This is my favorite depiction of Mary's visitation by the angel Gabriel.  Mary is a youthful teenager, looking scared and vulnerable.

This vulnerability -- and even ignominy -- is the scandalous and incongruous power of God.  On the outskirts of Empire, through this poor, young, frighted peasant girl God saved the world.